MBB: St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[MacHighlander]

Mac beats Blackburn 81-67. Nice games from Lee (17 pts), Best (19 pts), and Whitlock (13pts). Slagle grabs 11 rebounds and Burton reappears and collects 9 pts off the bench. Balanced efforts by the Highlanders, who trailed by two at halftime, and then outscored BC by 16 in the second half. Mac put together a 10-0 run early in the second half that gave them the lead, but it took some good free throw shooting in the last 90 seconds to secure the win.

Mac at Greenville on Saturday. Big one, to say the least. With Webster traveling to Spalding, lots on the line.

[hopefan]

Yep Mac, the important ones start this weekend...
There are so many different scenarios that could play out even if we assume the top 6 will always beat out the bottom 3....

We'll have to wait awhile longer before we start 'what-iffing'...  right now there are just too many what-ifs

I'll sit back and root for my 5 way tie scenario... which means,hmmm, I'm rooting for a Spalding win over Webster and a Greenville win over Mac.....    I'm going over to Greenville.. if you come down, find me... I always sit a couple rows behind the scorers table there......

[MacHighlander]

Wish I could make it down to Greenville, hopefan, but too much on the plate right now. Hoping to make it to the Webster-Mac game ion Feb. 18 though. Still some brush I need to cut first.

I think Mac is playing pretty well right now. The bounce back in the second half last night was impressive. Getting different contributions from different players every game helps. Kids play hard, they have some depth, and don't seem to panic when they need a big play. Not sure the Highlanders can grab the #1 seed because of the head start Webster had, not to mention Mac's loss at Fontbonne. That's going to haunt them but it is what it is. But this is a team that will be a tough out in the post-season play-offs.

I look for Coach Creal to have his team ready to go Saturday.

[MObball41]

Hello SLIAC board, I'm a long-time reader, first time poster. Hopefan, your pleas for participation finally pulled me in. What a year it's been for the SLIAC- I can't remember a year when there has been six teams that could potentially beat each other on any given night. It's really been an exciting year to follow, and looks to be an exciting end.

I live out west and tend to make a few Westmin games every year. Although this team has dropped a few more games this season than they have in the past few years, I still feel they have the pieces to make a run in the Conf. Tourney. All they need to do now is to make it there, which it looks like they will need some help. If the Blue Jays can win these next three, I like their chances to get in.

[hopefan]

  MoBall41  Welcome Welcome Welcome


Pat, please send my finders fee check ASAP

[hopefan]

MoBBall...  I've been a fan of Westminster hoops for the last 7 or 8 years for several reasons....

High amount of respect for Coach Mitchell...  he's just one of the 'hidden gem coaches' that work in the SLIAC..
I love the historical building and gym, the turn of the century photos etc... great D3 atmosphere
Westminster plays (or attempts to play) the kind of game I like, smart offense, tough Defense
they ususally have key members of the program from the St Louis area that I might have seen or read about...

This year, and their record shows it, has been a struggle... and quite honestly they didn't look too good vs Fontbonne the other night....  with only one returning starter, this hasn't been surprising... and I agree with you, anyone can beat anyone in the top 6.... But given the two losses to Greenville, they almost have to win 2 of thos last 3 with a win against either Mac or Eureka....  I'll see how Mac is playing this weekend, but Eureka and Greenville are both playing well right now...
But in my mind the turnovers have to decrease, and there needs to be less reliance on the 3 pointers if Westmin's season is to be extended.

PS got a kick out of the Fontbonne announcer the other night as he continually referred to WC as
'West-min-is-ter'

[MObball41]

From what I hear the Fontbonne-Westmin game was an ugly one. There might have been an increase in turnovers that game, but overall WC has done relatively well in that category sitting 2nd in the conference at 12.8 TO/game. WC found a way to win when they weren't playing well.

It seems like a lot of the other SLIAC teams are playing zone against the Blue Jays (not sure if those teams are traditional zone teams). WC has a number of good shooters, but the shots haven't always fallen this year for whatever reason. I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys catch fire in the next couple weeks (fingers crossed).

The West-min-is-ster pronunciation is a big pet peeve of mine. Where do you get that extra "is"   

[MacHighlander]

Blackburn    46   Westminster (Mo.) 64   
Fontbonne    71   Eureka 86   
Webster    61   Spalding 65   
MacMurray    71   Greenville    99   

Mac lays an egg at Greenville. Ouch. Missed a great opportunity to move into a tie for the top spot.

Standings


            Conference        Overall
                GP   Rec                   GP   Rec   
Eureka   14   11-3         23   15-8   
Webster   13   10-3         22   10-12
MacMurray   13   9-4         22   12-10   
Westy   14   9-5         23   13-10
Spalding   14   9-5         23   12-11   
Greenville   13   8-5         21   13-8   
Blackburn   14   3-11         23   6-17   
Fontbonne   14   2-12         22   3-19   
Principia   13   0-13         22   0-22   

Get ready for a photo finish, with Webster hosting Greenville and traveling to Mac. Mac also hosts Westy and Eureka. Schedule favors the Highlanders, in terms of controlling their own destiny, but could use a little help. Today didn't help, but a first place finish is still in the cards.

[hopefan]

Family and/or adult fans need to recognize that they represent the school they support... they create an image of the school to others...

The behavior of the MacMurray crowd at Greenville - and I'm speaking of a small group of adults - was abhorrent.  The foul language, twisted angry screaming at officials, opposing players, and others in the crowd went directly against the good sportsmanship statement read by a Greenville player prior to the game.  The Mac AD was at the game... he should have immediately quelled the situation by taking a seat among the troublemakers.... What if Mac had a recruit and his family there...would they have been impressed?  I am Stubborn enough NOT to move from my seat in this situation (as I saw several others move), also ill tempered enough to tell those people what I thought of their behavior..(no regrets). 

The game... too much respect for Coach Creal and Mac players to go into the ugliness.... Greenville simply ran away from them...quickness to the basket and great passing and off the ball movement generated countless layups..  the game was never close in the second half.....Mac needed to dictate the pace, and falling behind early, they were never able to...

[hopefan]

Hopefan standings after Saturday night
for simplicity  let's assume each team wins it's remaining home games against each other (Therefore they lose when they are away), and each team wins any remaining games with BC, Font, and Prin

Ending standings would look like this:

1    Webster      12-4   ( Holds Forecast record  with loss AT Spalding )
2    Mac            12-4    (Holds forecast record with loss AT Greenville)
3     Eureka        11-5   (Holds forecast record with win over Fontbonne)
4    Greenville     10-6   (Holds forecast record beating Mac at home)
4    Westmin      10-6   (Holds forecast record with win over BC)
NA   Spalding       10-6   (Holds forecast record beating Webster at home)

also note my 5 way tie potential still exists, but I'll need surprise wins by Westmin and Greenville to keep it going on Wednesday

[y_jack_lok]

Article about former Maryville men's coach Matt Rogers LaVerne women's team:

http://www.d3hoops.com/seasons/women/2011-12/contrib/20120212yhi2zz

[y_jack_lok]

The Blackburn AD was at the game... he should have immediately quelled the situation by taking a seat among the troublemakers....

What was the Blackburn AD doing there when his teams were playing at Westminster?

[hopefan]

The Blackburn AD was at the game... he should have immediately quelled the situation by taking a seat among the troublemakers....

What was the Blackburn AD doing there when his teams were playing at Westminster?

Senile old man error noted, senile old man correction made   Sometimes i even amaze myself...

[MacHighlander]

Sorry about the leatherlungs down at Greenville, hopefan. No excuse. I've never understood why parents and/or fans of a team choose to embarrass themselves, their kids, their team, their school, and their community. Seen and heard it too many times, for too many years. I used to think it was a combination of dads living vicariously through their kids, with a heavy dose of has-beens and never-wases mixed in. But now I think it's also just extremely poor manners, immature adults, and people who don't really care what anyone else thinks. On behalf of the many MacMurray parents and fans who respect the officials, the other team, the game of basketball, and only cheer and say positive things about the Highlanders and their opponents, I apologize for those who chose to show the very worst of what sportsmanship is supposed to be all about.

I've seen and heard this garbage from some other schools too, and just cringe when it happens. Wish there was a way to either electronically shut them up, or maybe install and ejector seat that would propel the loud mouth into a padded room for 24 hours.

The way Greenville played, and apparently the way MacMurray responded, I seriously doubt the three officials had any impact on the outcome. Sometimes you just get whipped, breaks or no breaks. It happens. Anyone who has ever played or coached the game knows this, and for any fan to think that poor officiating led to a 20 point loss either doesn't know anything about basketball, has lost touch with reality, or both.

[hopefan]

Well spoken Mac, I appreciate your words.....